All Assigned Readings are published on this course web site and linked directly
to this Syllabus
except for
1) Malcolm M. Feeley, THE PROCESS IS THE PUNISHMENT (Russell Sage Foundation
1992 paperback edition) ISBN 0-87154-255-2 ("Feeley")
and
2) Steve Bogira, COURTROOM 302 (Alfred A. Knopf 2005) ISBN 0-679-43252-3 ("Bogira")
Feeley and Bogira are purchased in the GSU Book Store. Some longer readings
posted on the web site will also be distributed in class to save students the
cost of printing.

A.
INTRODUCTION (Classes One and Two)

CLASS 1 (8/23):
The first class will introduce the themes and methodology of the course. Begin
by reading the "Case of the Missing College Student" as reported in
Readings 1-4. Be prepared to discuss in class the following questions: (1) Was
the case arising out of the student's arrest for disorderly conduct properly
handled? (2) If the answer is no, what was wrong with the case? 3) How
should the case have been handled differently? 4) Who was responsible for the
problems with the case?

CLASS 5 (9/6)
Regular class. We will continue our discussion from Class 3, adding comparisons
between our observations at the Municipal Court and at the Fulton County State
Court. One topic will be whether the courtroom proceedings we observed complied
with the constitutional requirements set forth in Alabama v Shelton
and County of Riverside v. McLaughlin.
The Report of the Chief Justice's
Commission on Indigent Defense -- Part II: Impact of Alabama v. Shelton
in Georgia (Reading #10) will be a useful guide for you in preparing for
this discussion. Another topic will be to compare our methodology and analysis
with Feeley's study of the New Haven Court of Common Pleas. We will discuss
proposed research projects and as time permits, we will review step-by-step
the process that led to the writing of the October 27, 2003 letter to the
Chief Judge of the Atlanta City Court (Reading #6).

CLASS 18 (10/27)
No class meeting. Fieldwork. Email to Chris Bracci and Hemanth Digumarthi
one paragraph biography of yourself and short description of your class project
that they will forward to Mr. Bogira before he comes to Atlanta.

CLASS 20 (11/3)
Class from 9 - 11:00 at the Georgia Justice Project. Guests will be Steve
Bogira (author of Courtroom 302) and Doug Ammar, Executive Director of
the Georgia Justice Project. For directions to GJP, click here.Bogira 58-347, 355-83 (rest of book, including Sources and
Notes). You have already read some of these pages for Class 6 (Larry Bates's
story), so you can skim those pages.

11/7 Report on fieldwork results to date along with complete
activity report showing time spent due by 5pm (submit by email). Late submission
without good cause will result in reduction of fieldwork portion of grade
by equivalent of one letter grade for each 24 hour period.

Municipal Court Chief Judge Deborah Greene11/22 Fieldwork report and reform proposal should have been
delivered to relevant persons and agencies and feedback received from them
by this date.
11/24 No class (Thanksgiving holiday)

12/2 Submission of final report for course grade by 5pm
(email submission).

Rules for late submission of final report without good cause or PRIOR
permission of instructor:
-- Reports received after 5pm on Dec 2 but before 5 pm on Dec 5 will have
grade reduced by one letter grade equivalent (e.g. from B to C).
-- Reports received after 5pm on Dec 2 but before 5 pm on Dec 6 will have
grade reduced by two letter grades equivalent (e.g. from B to D).
-- Reports received after 5pm on Dec 2 but before 5 pm on Dec 7 will have
grade reduced by three letter grades equivalent (e.g. from B to F).
-- Reports received after 5pm on Dec 2 but before 5 pm on Dec 8 will have
grade reduced by four letter grades equivalent (e.g. from A to F).
-- Failure to submit a report by 5pm on Dec 9 will result in failing grade
for course.